Career Advance Colorado

Program Ending June 2025

As of August 2024, Pikes Peak State College's Career Advance Colorado funding is only anticipated to last through the Spring 2025 term. Tuition, fees, and other associated costs for eligible programs will be covered only as long as this funding is available.

Zero-Cost Training for In-Demand Jobs

Ready for a career change?
Take the first step with Pikes Peak State College and Career Advance Colorado! Thanks to this state program, you can get free training in rewarding fields that move Colorado forward.

How does it work?
Starting Fall 2023, students who enroll in one of the following training programs will have their tuition, fees, course materials, and other costs covered while funding is available:

Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science
- Early Childhood Education Director Certificate
- Early Childhood Education Teacher Certificate
- Early Childhood Education Assistant Teacher Certificate
- Infant Toddler Certificate
Fire Science Technology
- Basic Firefighter Certificate
Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy
- PPRLEA Certificate
Certified Nurse Aide
Emergency Medical Technician Certificate (covered starting Spring 2024)
Phlebotomy Certificate (covered starting Spring 2024)

To enroll, you must apply for federal and/or state financial aid. Contact financialaid@pikespeak.edu and enrollment@pikespeak.edu to discuss your options, financial aid, and application steps.

Pikes Peak State College fire science students practice putting out fires during a training activity.

Student Eligibility Requirements

An eligible FAFSA (is the Federal Financial Aid application for eligible U.S. Citizens or other eligible noncitizens) or CASFA (is the State Financial Aid application for undocumented, Colorado ASSET Students) must be received by the college. (Students with a rejected FAFSA would not be eligible and must take necessary steps to complete their FAFSA.)
Students must be a Colorado Resident or ASSET student (funds from the Colorado General Fund require eligible students to be Colorado residents and not just eligible for in-state tuition rates). COF must be applied to the student’s account if they are eligible.
Must have declared an eligible program as either their primary or secondary program in the term the CAC funding is paid. Only classes required for the program are eligible for funding. (See page 2 for approved programs)
Must have eligible Financial Aid SAP/MAP status (Satisfactory Academic Progress).
For the first year of the program (2324), students in Default on a student loan would qualify. Students currently in default can apply for Fresh Start programs to get themselves out of default. CCCS colleges will send out information to these students explaining how to get out of Default with the Fresh-Start. The Fresh Start program ends 9/30/24 so the eligibility would likely change for the 2425 awards.
Students who are selected for verification must complete the verification process. This selection may be made by ED during the FAFSA processing or based on college selections.
High School graduation or equivalency is required. This is based on current Colorado Student Aid Guidelines for awards from the Colorado General Fund.
Students with a prior bachelor’s degree are eligible for the funding as these programs are designated as quick-to-work opportunities.
Tuition/fees may be based on the tuition and fees cost of attendance estimates.
Pell Grants and Colorado Student Grants can be used to cover non-tuition and fee cost of attendance components prior to tuition and fees estimates.
Students may receive a combination of funding from CAC, CFC, CTE Grants, ECE101/101 Grants, and/or ECE Educators Scholarships based on awarding criteria provided only one source of funding is covering the required expenses. These decisions would be based on the college’s available allocations and the awarding requirements.